Foot cushioning and supporting device



Dec. 22, 1959 w. M. scHoLL.

FOOT CUSHIONING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 16, 1956 United States Patent FOOT cUsHIoNING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE y william M. schon, Chicago, 1u.

Application October 16, 1956, Serial No. 616,341 s claims. (Cl. 36-71) This invention relates to improvements in a foot cushioning and supporting device, and more particularly to a device for lending support and corrective aid to the plantar surface of the human foot in various locations dependent upon a particular patients needs, the device being so constructed as to be readily worn inside any shoe or other article of footwear for men, women, and children, although the device may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of foot cushionin Vand supporting devices to lend aid to particular localities on the plantar surfaces of a human foot have been developed, but in every instance of which I am aware, these devices proved objectiona-bly expensive to manufacture rowing to the fact that a lift or additional supporting element could not be provided in a precise location in an economical manner during manufacture. Further, devices of this character usually carry a cover over the :actual cushioning means, and heretofore it has been extremely dicult to make any variation as may be desired in the cushioning means and then attach the whole to a cover manufactured in a uniform manner economically. In other words selectively cushioning means for covers all made alike was not available to a satisfactory extent. Extreme difficulty has also been experienced heretofore in providing a lift or added cushioning element in an intermediate location in connection with a full or partial cushioning insole and particularly soin an economical manner. In addition, devices of this character heretofore known did not in many cases provide a comfortable cushioning support possessing long enduring effectiveness and which would also exert a gentle massaging action on the foot as well as cushion and support the same.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a foot cushioning and supporting device which may be either in the form of a full or partial insole and which is so constructed as to provide cushioning support to the foot over the entire area of the device, as well as additional support in any desirable location.

Also an object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive corrective cushioning device for insertion in an article of footwear which device embodies a plurality of laminations or sheets of material heat sealed together, one of the sheets being of Vcushioning material, and an added smaller sheet of cushioning material heat sealed in an intermediate location to one of the other sheets.

A further feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a foot cushioning and supporting device comprising a sheet of cushioning material to which a lift is heat sealed in an intermediate location, and the composite cushioning structure is heat sealed to a cover member.

A still further feature of the instant invention resides .in the provision of a foot cushioning and corrective appliance in the form of a full or partial insole, and which consists of a layer of cushioning material, a lift of cushioning material heat sealed around its bounding edge to rifice the layer but otherwise unsecured thereto, and the corn-l posite cushioning structure being heat sealed to a cover' layer at the bounding edges and otherwise unsecured thereto.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a foot cushioning and corrective device in the form of a full or partial insole, which comprises a sheet of foam material the full area of the resultant device, and an added piece of foam. material of lesser size heat sealed to the foam sheet inside the bounding edge thereof and in an intermediate location, the added piece or lift effecting support for both the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foot, and the larger foam sheet being heat sealed at its bounding edge to a cover layer, if so desired.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a foot corrective and cushioning device embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken 'substantially along the line III-III of Figure l, but only partially through the device;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line III-Ill of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a cushioning and corrective device of somewhat different construction, but also embodying principles of the instant invention; and

Figure 5 is a central vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line V-V of Figure 4.

As shown in the drawings:

In the first illustrated embodiment of the -instant invention, there is shown a foot cushioning and supporting device in the nature of a partial insole which extends from the rear of the heel to a forward edge just beyond the metatarsal heads, the device -being of such a length as to receive the metatarsal heads, but permit most of the toes to project beyond the device, whereby the device effectively cushions and supports the plantar surface of the foot and yet there is ample toe room within the article of footwear in which the device is disposed.

The illustrated form of the device includes a laminated structure comprising a sheet 1 of cushioning material which may satisfactorily be a thermoplastic fo-am having intercommunicating cells. As seen in Figure 2, an added layer of cushioning material which may be of the same substance as the sheet 1 in the form of a lift 2 is preferably heat sealed to the sheet 1, electronically or otherwise, around its bounding margin as indicated at 3. This heat seal is so made that the marginal portion of the composite structure adjacent to the heat seal seam 3 is curvate or is what might be termed a curved bevel, indicated at 4. Such a marginal construction eliminates any abrupt edges and affords a gradual and comfortable lift to the foot during use.

As seen clearly in Figure 1, the lift 2 in the illustrated instance is of ,such a shape as to lend cushioning support to both the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foo-t. It will further be noted that the lift is disposed inwardly of the bounding edge of the sheet 1 and by heat sealing the lift to the sheet 1, it remains in any predetermined position and need not extend to the edge of the sheet 1, whereby the lift may be accurately located and also made of precisely the proper size for the intended purpose.

In this embodiment of the invention, the lift 2 is disclosed on the inner side of the sheet 1, although that is not essential since the lift may be disposed upon either side ofthe sheet as will be apparent from the later discussed modification shown in Figures 4 and 5. As seen in both Figures 2 and 3 inan exaggerated showing for purposes of lclarity, the lift 2 is ,preferably secured, to .the

`Sheet V1onlyfatthe heat sealed seam 3 and is separate Atherefrom inside the heat seal seam,the.space`be tween the two members being designated 5.

The composite cushioningportion of the device, ,above ldescrib-edmay be .attached to a cover layer ,orsheetmof substantially equal area `with the cushion sheet 1, -as ;clearly` seen inl-ligure y3. 4Sheet l1 and co-ver sheet 6 are l,preferably,heat sealed together at ythebounding edges thereof, Aand otherwiseare unsecured to each other. uOnly two unions are preferablymade with the three initially .separatepieces of material, namely the heat sealeam 3 joining .the litt` to the cushion sheetl, andthe bounding edge heatseal,seam 7 joining the cushion sheetI to the lcover .sheet G. As also seen in Figure ,3, the heat seal seam 7 uniting the lcushionsheet tothe cover sheet 6 yisfp-referably defined by curvate marginal portions there adjacent, whereby the device fits properly within an article of footwear, compensates for the marginal upturn- `ing of the built-in linsole ofa shoe or the like, and presents ,.a,proper fiat upper surface to the foot ofthe user.

1 these cut covers, a sheet l carryinga lift in any desirable location may be added. In the making of the sheet 1, the general outline thereof corresponds to the cover, and it is a simple expedient to apply a lift in any desired location intermediate or otherwise, to the sheet.1 and heat seal it thereto, whereby there is no particular'proo lem or expense presented in the making of a variety of cushioning devices, or even in the making .ofsuch devices for special orders.

rl'he cover 6 and even the cushioning material itself may be made in selective colors, and the cover given an external finish that is plain, mottled, grained, or leatherlike in appearance. Since the substance used is prefer- .ably thermoplastic, the entire ,device may be .readily cleansedby washing at any time and is very rapid in drying. V Due to the freedom from each other of the respective layers inside the heat seal seams, certain relative movement is permitted,and accordingly the device will not bulge, wrinkle, or become distorted during usage. If gthe-cover 6 is irnperforate, air will be admitted tothe :space ybetween the cushioning members. and also. be-

-tween the sheet land the cover during walking, ,and .when pressure ,-is applied by ythe foot, the air, must be -driventhrough theintercommunicating cells of the foam .-material, and thus there isprovided an` added cushioning effect and massaging action against 'the plantar surface .ofthe-foot. 'Ventilation is also presentby virtue of the intercommunicating cells in the foam elements. Other advantages of a device of this character and made of equivalent materials are more fully set forth and explained in my co-pending application entitled Foot Cushioning Devices, led September 12, 1956, Serial No. 609,453.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a diierent fonn of construction to illustrate clearly that the cushion lift may be of different sizes and different disposition as desired. In this instance, the thermoplastic foam sheet 1 is utilized and the same unsupported lm cover sheet 6 is utilized, these being heat sealed together at their bounding edges at 7, as above described. In this instance, however, a lift 8 is provided which is in the form of a metatarsal arch support, andthis lift is heat sealed to the foam sheetl, around Vthe boundingedges of-,.thel ift as shown at 9. Preferably the lift is notV otherwise secured to the foamsheet 1.

In this instance, the lift` `8 is disposed on the, `outer or under side of the foam sheet 1 to illustrate that it is irnmaterial which side the lift may be placed upon. Again, all heat seal seams are preferably provided with curvate marginal portions thereadjacent.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an eicient, long lived, `.andexceedingly lightweight foot cushioning and corrective appliance which may bernade in different shapes;and.with differently disposed. lifts in an extremely economical manner. 'i

It,.will be understood that modifications andvariations may be affectedzwithout departing from the scopeofl the novel concept .of the present invention. v

I claimas myinvention;

l. A footcushioning andgsupporting device, compris inga thin cover sheet, a thicker sheet of foam cushioning material coextensive with said cover sheet and secured thereto only at the edges ofthe sheets, and a supporting cushion of lesser size than said sheets disposedbetween said sheets inwardly ofthe edges of the sheets and .secured around its edge, only to.,said foam sheet.

2..-Affoot cushioning and` supportingdevice, comprisi 'ing a thin cover sheet, a thicker sheet of foamcushigning material coextensivewith said cover sheet and .secured V,theretoonly at the Aedges-of the sheets, anda supporting cushion of lesser. size `than said sheets disposed between said sheets inwardly of the ,edges of the sheets .andsecured at its edge only to one only of said sheets, whereby 'except for the edge securements said sheets. are unattached to eachother and to said cushion.

3. A foot cushioning and supporting device, Ycornprising a thin .plastic cover sheet, a thicker plastic foam cushioning sheetpunderlying andcoextensive withnsaiclecoyer sheet, a fused joint at the edges of saidsheets con 'ng `the same together. at the edges only, a plastic supporting .cushion of .lesser size than said sheets and dis-posed therebetween, anda fused joint connecting .the edge only of said cushion to one .onlyrof said sheets. i'

ReferencesCited inthe file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES 'Modern Plastics Periodical, November=l954 (pages `106-108 and 214-216),Plastic Digest. 

